Stop mechanism for knitting machines



Ap 1, 1947. s. AQWYTOVICH STOP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES FiledJuly 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet w. W H

INVENTOR. 571mm ,4. Wrens/l ,4 THRIVE) Ap 1, 1947. s. A. WYTOV'ICH STOPMECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1946 2mw W m. A w. m 5

ATTOR/VD.

Patented Apr. 1, 1947 UNITED STATE s'ror MECHANISM FOR KNITTING.

MACHINES Stanley AtWytovich, Allentown; Pa assignor to Blossom ProductsCorporation, Allentown, Pa, a corporation ofPennsylvania Applicatieniuly10, 1946, SerialNo. 682,572

This invention relates to knitting machines, and, more particularly, toa device for stopping the" machine when a predetermined quantity offabric has been produced.

It' is essential that the take-upreel upon which the knitted fabric iswound as it is being produced contain a constant quantity of the fabricand that there be no variation in the yardage of successive reels taken;fromv the same machine or from a group-of machines. This is necessarybecause the yardage is an important factor in the subsequent dyeing andfinishing operations; the goods aremarketed' and sold onthe basis oflength;- freight and other charges are based on yardage: etc.

Stop mechanisms heretofore incorporated in circularknittihgmachineaiboth of the rotating and stationary cylinder type, have not,been whollysatisfactory for a number ofireasons. Besides beingcomplicated, or rather asa result of this, they have not been dependablein operation, becauseof frequent failure to function and stopthe-machine. Such stop mechanisms have not been suflicientl y accuratein holding the fabric content of successive take-up reels toa constantquantity, the variation between reels being so great as to defeat thepurpose for which the stop mechanism was intended.

The principal object of this invention is to provide anewand improvedstop mechanism for circular knitting machines which will be dependablein operation and not subject to failure to stop the machine at the'endof each production cycle; and which will be highly accurate so thatsuccessive take-up? rolls will contain a constant quantity of knittingfabric;

A further object of the invention is a stop mechanism of; the characterdescribed which comprises a relatively few number of parts, ofsimpleconstruction; and not costly'to manufacture; A further object is astop mechanism for the purposes: described which will be positive inoperation. A still: further object is a stop mechanismwhichlcanbereadily applied toknown types of circular knitting machines.

For" theiattainment of the foregoing and such other objects. ofinvention as may appear or be pointed. out hereiniI have shown anembodiment of my invention inithe accompanying; drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front, elevational View of the lower; take-unpartion of 'acircular knitting machine; intorporating the improved stopmechanism-fori a .rotating cylinder construction;

Fignre mshows the pair of: contact rollers and.

12 Claims. (01.66-167) V 2* the lower portion of the rod to which theyare secured; H

Figure 3T-is a sectionalview taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; v I

Figure 4 is an elevational view, on enlarged scale, ofthe stopmechanism, showing a portion ofthemachine of Figure 1;

Figure 5v is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing certain: of theparts in section;

Figure 6- is a top view of the improved device, showing a portion of,the machine to whichit is secured;. g

Figurev 7. is an elevational view of the parts shown in: Figure 6,,taken from the front face thereof; v v

Figure 8 isasectiontaken online 8 -8 of Figure 6;.

Figures is an elevationalview similar to Figure '7 but takenifrom therear. face of the device shown in Figure. 6;

Figure 1.0 1s; an:e1evationa1 View similar toFi'gure 9, but showing,only certain of the parts thereof, in altered position; and

Figure ll is a section taken on line H-l l of Figure 6. v H

Referring to Figure 1-, the circular knitting machine illustrated is therotating cylinder type, 7

although the invention, can be applied to a stationary cylinder type byany one skilled. in the art. The machine has a main supporting. base I0which is an annular ring of inverted-L section. To the depending flangeportion-of base ring l0 issecured at spaced points about" its periphery,anumber of supporting legs 9. To the upper face of base ring, I0 issecured at spaced pointsiabout its periphery, the lower ends of a numberof supporting braces-8, tothe upper'e'nds of which is secured an upperannularring, I,

which, together with upright bars 6', furnishes the support for themechanism constituting the upper portion (not shown) of the knittingmachine.

During the operative rotation of a circular knitting machine, a tube. offabric is formed in well-known manner, and is directed downwardly to atake-up mechanism. In the particularstructure. illustrated, as cylinder2 is" rotated (by means not shown) the fabric; knitted in' tubular format the upper portion of themachine, moves downwardly from rotatingcylinder 2% to pass through a pair of long rollers 21. The fabric as itleaves rotatingcylinder 24 is circular'b'ut becomes flattened whenpassing through rollers 21; hence the tapering appearance of the tubularfabric as indicated'a't 5. The" flattenedf'abric 4 'thereon, by thefollowing means: is secured a worm wheel 32 meshing with worm I tojlthepredetermined fabric content.

- ofswitch |3 is connected by a rod or wire l5 to one leg 16 of abell-crank lever |6-|| pivotally' mounted to supporting brace 8 at l8.provided on ring 20 to trip the switch by turning 3 leaving the rollers2'! is wound on take-up reel 30, as will be described.

The upper face of base ring I0 is annularly recessed to present aperipheral ledge l2 which supports, and serves as a bearing for a ring20 which is annularly recessed to provide a peripheral shoulder 22seated on ledge l2. Ring 20 is rotated from rotating cylinder 24 bymeans of a number of rods 23 which are secured to ring 20 and cylinder24 at spaced points about their periphery.

Secured to, and depending from, ring 20 are a pair of brackets 25, thelower ends of which are provided with bearings 26 for the shaft 3| ofthe take-up reel. Rollers 21 have bearing supports (not shown) securedto ring20. It is thus seen that main ring 20 and cylinder 24 rotate as aunit, and mounted on ring 26 to rotate therewith are the take-up reel36, flattening rollers 2'! and the tubular fabric 5,4 coming offrotating cylinder 24.

Take-up shaft 3| is rotated, to wind the fabric To shaft 3| 33 securedat the lower end of a short vertical shaft 34. Shaft 34 has a clutch35-36 (the purpose of which will be presently explained) and is drivenfrom a horizontal shaft 38 through gearing (not shown). Horizontal shaft38 is journaled at its left end, Figure 1, in a bearing 2| dependingfrom main ring 20 and by other bearings (not shown) and likewise securedto ring 20. 'is secured a bevel pinion 39 which meshes with At the leftend of horizontal shaft 38 the bevel teeth of an annular rack l9 securedinunderlying relation to the stationary base ring H). Horizontal shaft38 and vertical shaft 34 'andtheir associated partsbeing carried, to-

gether with take-up shaft 3|, brackets 25, etc., by main ring 20, theturning of ring 26 will cause rotation to be imparted to horizontalshaft38 as bevel pinion 39 rides on stationary rack l9.

vIn this manner, take-up rotation is imparted to take-up shaft 3| of thereel. The clutch 35-36 take-up reel. That is, take-up shaft 3I'is notconstantly driven but only for a portion of the time; this portiondepends upon the diameter of the reel at the particular time and iscontrolled fby the intermittent means associated with clutch member 36.7

On one of the supporting braces 8 is mounted an electrical switch |3which is shut-off to stop the machine when the take-up reel has built upLever l4 Means are bell-crank lever |6|'| in a counterclockwisedirection (as viewed in Figures 1 and 4) when the take-up reel has builtup to the predeterf mined fabric content.

secured to ring 20 by an L-shaped bracket 4|J-4|, the horizontal flange40 of which is screwed or The tripping means is otherwise fastened toring 29. As best seen in.

7 50, as best'seen in Figures 4, 5.

Slide bar 50 has an extent of longitudinal sliding movement relative tothe bracket, limited by a pin 53 which projects outwardly from slide bar50 and clears through an elongated slot 43 provided in the web ofchannel 42, the length of the slot determining the said limited slidingmovement of bar 56. Pin 53 also serves to an chor one end of a tensilespring 37, the other end of which is secured to a pin 44 projectingoutwardly of the channel 42. A second pin 5| is secured near the rightend (Figures 6, 9) of slide bar 50, i. e., near the end adjacentbell-crank |6|'|. To pin 5| is secured a contact finger 51. As best seenin Figure 9, the right end of the web of channel 42 is recessed by anotch 45 to receive pin 5! when slide bar 56 is in its leftmost position(as in Figure 9) with pin 53 abutting the left end of slot 43. In theleftmost position of slide bar 55 (shown in solid lines in Fig- 'ures,6, 9 and '7), its contact finger 5'! will not strike vertical leg I? ofbell-crank iEi--|"| as the tripping mechanism passes the bell-crank asit turns counterclockwise (as viewed in Figure 6).

Slide bar 56 is latched in-its leftmost, inactive position, against therightward urgency of tensioned spring 31 to project contact finger 51 toactive position, by a hook 52 at the left end of the slide bar which isheld by a latch dog 62. Latch dog 62 is secured, as by the set-screwshown, to a lever which is pivotly mounted at 6| to the vertical flange4| of bracket 40--4|. The angle of turning of lever 6!] is limited bytwo closely spaced pins 63, see Figure 7. Near its distal end lever 65carries a rod 64 disposed transversely of lever 60 and provided at itslower end, Figures 4 and 7, with a pair of contact rollers 1|, 7|. Rod64 is mounted on lever 66 in a manner to provide for the following threeadjustments: first, contact rod 64 may be adjusted longitudinally oflever 66, i. e., to left and right, as viewed in Figures 6, 7; second,contact rods 64 may be angularly adjusted in a plane normal to lever.6|) third, contact rod 64 may be axially adjusted to raise or lower itscontact rollers 1|, Figure 7. These three adjustments are made possibleby the mounting bracket, see Figure 11, comprised by two hubs 67, TIintegrally united with their Bracket 61-11 is mounted on lever 60 whichis slidably received in bore 18 of hub 11; and may be secured at anypoint along lever 60, and with contact rod 64 disposed in the desiredangular relation, by means of set screw 19. Contact rod 64 is slidablyreceived in bore 68 of hub 61 and is secured by set screw 69 so as todispose its contact rollers H, 1| at the proper distance from lever 60;a fourth adjustment is here provided, namely, the angular turning ofcontact rod 64 to orient its rollers 'F l. H as required.

Contact rollers 1|, II are engaged by the periphery of v the fabricbeing wound on'take-up reel 30 when the fabric has built up to thepreers 7|, H are effective to stop the machine, as will be subsequentlydescribed. To improve the engagement of the fabric with the contactrollers and to compensate of anyunevenness in the periphery of thefabric as it is Wound on the takeup reel, contact rollers l I 1| arepivotly mounted at the lower end of contact rod 64 so as to have alimited extent of turning movement. For this purpose, the lower end ofcontact rod 64 is bifurcated, as best seen in Figure 3, to provide two.forks 65 between which is pivotly mounted a spindle Til which iscentrally flattened to be received within the forks 65, 65; spindle isheld in place by pivot screw 66 passed through apertures in forks 65. 65and an aperture centrally located in spindle 16. Spindle 10, except forits central flattened portion, is in the form of a round rod, upon whichare rotatively mounted the pair of contact rollers H, H. The ends orspindle III are threaded for nuts 12 which retain the contact rollers inplace, Figure 2.

Contact rod 64 is adjusted, in the manner described above, to present itpair of contact rollwith its take-up reel empty, slide bar 50 is moved,

leftwardly, as viewed in Figures 9, 6 and '7, where it is; latched, byengagement of its hook 52 with latch dog 62, in inoperative positionwith its trip finger 51 disposed leftwardly of bell-crank l6-I 1. This.latched, inoperative position is shown in Figures 9, 6 and 7 in solidlines; as perhaps best seen in Figure 6, in this position of slide bar59, its contact or trip finger 51 will be ineffective to engage thevertical leg I! of bell-crank lt--il,

as the stop mechanism, carried by ring 29, turns counterclockwise, asviewed in Figure 6, therewith. When, however, the take-up reel is builtup to the predetermined fabric content and contact rollers 1 l H areengaged, as described above, and the lever 65 is turned on its pivot 6I, upwardly in Figure '7, latch dog 62, secured on lever 60 as alreadydescribed, is withdrawn from engagement with hook 52, whereupon thetensioned fspring 31 moves slide bar 50 rightwardly (indicated bydot-and-dash position in Figures 6, 7

and 9). In this rightward position of slide bar 50, its finger 51 isplaced so that it will engage vertical leg I! of bell-crank l6l'l; hencethe next time the stop mechanism, following the release of its slide bar50, passes bell-crank I6l'i, finger 51 will engage vertical leg l1, andturnthe bell-crank counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, thus pullingwire l5, Figure 1, downwardly to operate electrical switch l3 and stopthe machine.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by wayof example and in preferred form; but obviously many variations andmodifications may bemade therein which will stillbe comprised within itsspirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is notlimited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as suchlimitations are specified in the appended claims. i

I claim:

I. A stop. mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type havingan annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during theknittin operation, a take-up reel car'- ried by the said-ring, and anelectrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stopmechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the saidtake-u-p reelhas built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, incombination, a bell-crank lever pivotly mounted on the machine framewith its horizontal leg articulated to said switch andwith its verticalle disposed close to the said rotating ring, an angle bracket secured tothe said ring to disposeits vertical flange, when approaching the saidbellcrank lever, normal to a plane therethrough, a channel secured toone face of the said bracket flange and having an elongated slot in itsweb and a pin projecting therefrom, a; bar slidably mountedin the recessof-said channel and provided'with a pin clearing through said slot, atrip finger at its end adjacent the said bell-crank lever, and a hook atits other end, a tensile spring secured between the said pins of theslide bar and channel, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the otherface of said bracket flange for a limited extent of vertical turning andprovided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position of the lever toengage the aid hook to retain the slide bar in inoperative position withits trip finger spaced from the said bell-crank lever and with the saidspring tensioned to move the bar to operative position, a contact rodsecuredtransversely of said lever, and a pair of contact rollers mountedat the. lowerend of aid rod and adapted to be engaged by the peripheralfabric of the takeup reel when built-up to its said predetermined fabriccontent.

2-. A stop mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type havingan annular ring. supported on the machine frame and rotated. during theknitting operation, a. take-up reel carried by the saidring, and anelectrical control switch secured on the machine framasaid stopmechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reelhas built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, incombination, means on the machine frame for operating the said switch,an angle bracket secured to the said ring to dispose its verticalflange, when approaching the said switch operating means, normal to aplane therethrough, a channel secured to one face of the said bracketvflange and having an elongated slot in its web and a pinprojecting-therefrom, a bar slidably mounted in the recess of saidchannel and provided with a pin clearing through said slot, a tripfinger at its end adjacent the said switch operating means, anda hook atits other end, a tensile spring secured between the said pins of theslide bar and channel, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the otherface of said bracket flange for a limited extent of vertical turning andprovided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position of the lever toengage the said hook to retain the slide bar in inoperative positionwith its trip finger spaced from the said switch operating means andwith the said spring tensioned to move the bar to operative position, acontact rod secured transversely of said lever, and a contact rollermounted at the lower end of said rod and adapted to be engaged by theperipheral fabric of the take-up reel when built-up to its saidpredetermined fabric content.

, 3. A stop mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type havingan annular ring supported on the machine frame androtated during theknitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and anelectrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stopmechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reelhas built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, incombination, a bellcrank lever pivotly mounted on the machine framewithv its horizontal leg articulated to said switch and with itsvertical leg disposed close to .the said rotating ring, an angle bracketsecured to the said ring to dispose its vertical flangawhen approachingthe said bell-crank lever, normalto a plane therethrough, a bar slidablymounted on one face of the said bracket flange and provided with a tripfinger at its end adjacent the said bellcrank lever, and a hook at itsother end, a tensile spring tensionedto move the said slide bar to wardsthe bell-crank, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the other face ofsaid bracket flange for a limited extent of vertical turning andprovided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position of the lever toengage the said hook to re- .tain the slide bar in inoperative positionwith its trip finger spaced from the said bell-crank lever and with thesaid spring tensioned to move the bar to operative position, a contactrod secured transversely of said lever, the lower end of said rod beingadapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of the take-up reel whenbuilt-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

4. A stop mechanism for a circular knitting machine of the type havingan annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during theknitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and anelectrical control switch" secured on the machine frame, said stopmechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reelhas built-up to a predetermined plane therethrough, a bar slidablymounted on .4:

' one face of the said bracket flange and provided with a trip fingeratitsend adjacent the said switch operating means, and a hook at itsother end, a tensile spring stretched between the said j slide bar, andbracket flange, a lever pivotly mounted at one end to the otherface ofsaid bracket fla'nge for a limited extent of vertical turning andprovided with a latch dog adapted in the lower position'of the lever toengage the I said hook to retain the slidebar in inoperative positionwith its trip finger spaced fromfthe said switch operating means andwith the said spring tensioned to move thebar to operative position, acontact rod secured transversely of'said lever, and .a pair of contactrollers mounted at the lower end of said rod and adapted to be engagedby the peripheral fabric of the take-up reel when built up to its saidpredetermined fabric, content. 5. A stop mechanism for a'circularknitting machine'of the type having an annular ringsupported on. themachine frame and rotated during the knitting operation, a take-up reelcarried .by thesaid' ring, and an electrical control switch .secured onthe machine frame, said stop mechanism being adapted tov stop themachine when the said take-up reel has built-up to a predeterminedfabric content, comprising, in combination, means mounted on themachineliframe for operating the said switch,-a slide bar, means for neunting' the said bar on the said rotating ring for movement towards andfrom thessald switch operating means, the end of the slidable baradjacent the said switchoperatingfmea'ns being provided with a fingerand its other "end with ahook, spring means urging the slidable bartowards the said switch operating means, a

lever pivotly mounted on the said rotating "ring and provided with alatch dog adapted to engage the said hook to retain the slide bar ininoperative position with its finger spaced from' the said switchoperating means and with the said spring tensioned to move the bar tooperative position, and a'contact rod on the said lever, the lower endof said rod being adapted to be engaged by the peripheral fabric of thetake-up reel when built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

6. The combination according to claim 5 further provided with means formounting the said contact rod on the said lever for longitudinalmovement along the lever and for angular ad'- justment in a plane normalto the lever, said mounting means further providing axial movement ofthe said contact rod to adjust its said lower end relative to the lever.

7. The combination according to claim 5 further provided with a pair ofcontact rollers mounted at the said lower end of the rodan'd with meansfor mounting the said contact rod on the said lever, said contact rodbeing rotatively adjusted to orient its said pair of contact rollers atdesired angular relation to the said lever.

8. The combination according to claim 5 further provided with a pair ofcontact rollers piv- "otly mounted at the lower end of the contact rod.

9. The. combination according to claim5 further provided with means foradjustably mounting the said contact rod on the lever, said mountingmeans comprising a pair of hubs integrally united with their axes normalto one another, the said contact rod and lever being'received in thebore of the respective hubs, said hubs being provided with set screwsfor securing the respective contact rod and lever in axial androtational adjusted positions.

10. The combination according to claim 5 wherein the said lower end ofthe contact rod is bifurcated to provide a pair of forks, a short rodflattened at its central portion and pivoted thereat between the saidpair of forks, and a pair of rollers rotatively mounted at the =e nds ofthe said short rod,

11. A stop mechanism for a; circular knitting machine of the type havingan annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during theknitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and anelectrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stopmechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reelhas built-up to apredetermined fabric content, comprising, incombination, mea ns mounted on the machine frame for operating the saidswitch, a bar slidably mounted on the saidrotating ring for outwardandinward movement relative thereto and effective in out- Ward positionto actuate thesaid switch operating means, spring means urging the saidslidable bar to outward, operative position, latch means normallyholding the slidable barin inward, in-

operative position, andmeans -for releasing the slidable bar, said meansincluding a contact element adapted to be engaged by the peripheralfabric of the take-up reel when built-up to its said predeterminedfabric content.

12. A stop mechanism for a circularlknittlng machine of the type havingan annular ring supported on the machine frame and rotated during theknitting operation, a take-up reel carried by the said ring, and anelectrical control switch secured on the machine frame, said stopmechanism being adapted to stop the machine when the said take-up reelhas built-up to a predetermined fabric content, comprising, incombination, means mounted on the machine frame for operating the saidswitch, a bar slidabiy mounted on the said rotating ring for out wardand inward movement relative thereto and effective in outward positionto actuate the said switch operating means, said slidable bar beingnormally held in inward, inoperative position, and means for causingmovement of the slidable bar 10 r to outward, operative positions, saidmeans including a contact element adjustably positioned relative to thecenter of said take-up reel for engagement by the peripheral fabric whenthe reel is built-up to its said predetermined fabric content.

STANLEY A. WYTOVICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,991,785 Bouhuys Feb. 19, 19352,091,467 Carhart Aug. 31, 1937

